S. Koreans' life expectancy 29th in world: report

GENEVA, May 21 (Yonhap) -- The average life expectancy of South Koreans ranks 29th out of 193 countries, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday.

The latest findings showed that in 2007, South Koreans could expect to live 79
years, up 0.5 year from the tally taken the year before.
Portugal and Costa Rica also had average life expectancies of 79 years, tying
with South Korea.
By gender, a South Korean woman lives an average of 82 years, with males living
an average of 76 years. The latter represents a gain of one year from 2007.
The WHO report, meanwhile, said the life expectancy in North Korea is 66 years,
with women living 68 years and men living 64 years.
Of all countries tallied, Japan and San Mario -- a landlocked country in Italy --
ranked at the top of the scale, with citizens of those two countries expected to
live 82.5 years.
Runners-up were Australia, Iceland, Italy, Israel, Monacco and Andora, where
people have a life expectancy of 81.5 years.
The report said Sierra Leone ranked at the bottom with 41 years, with
Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Lesoto all showing average life expectancies of 45
years and under.